Stale Solbakken has warned his players to keep their cool in the heat of a derby battle.

Twice this season the Norwegian has seen his side depleted by a man inside the first half of matches.

And he’s in no mood to allow his players to make Blues’ job any easier.

“I think we’ve had our sendings off for this season and losing your head and temper in a game like this could make the opposition better than they are.

“So that’s an important part of it,” he said.

Wolves lie in 17th in the Championship - the toughest ever, says the boss.

“I think it is because you see the number of teams that beat each other and you the number of strange results, if you can call them that every week,” he said.

“It’s not only strange results but performance-wise as well. Middlesboro have dominated many teams this season, but they lost 3-1 at home to Bristol City very deservedly- it’s that kind of league. Teams who’ve been very steady at home have been the ones which are near the top.”

Solbakken admits he will bring in fresh blood in January - but players will also be moved out: “We have some names on the shortlist – we may look in more areas than we thought about at the beginning because of the injuries. As for players here you can’t keep them all – you can’t just fill up.

“It’s not just to do with numbers of players but the financial aspect as well.

“There’s a wage bill we also have to take care of as well so we can’t just fill up with players and say we’re happy with those that are here. I’m happy with those that are here but if we’re to be even more happy, then we also have to make decisions on some which may be a surprise for people, I don’t know.

"Each transfer window we must try to strengthen the squad, but you can’t just add players, you have to make decisions the other way too.

"Part of is making sure we have a squad that is more and more suited to what we want for the short and long term. But that also has to take into consideration length of contracts and financial things.

“The last transfer window very much proved that. Suddenly you get an offer you can’t refuse and you find a player that you very much want.

"The summer windows are a bit busier than winter ones because when the bigger clubs do more business, that tends to have a knock-on effect downwards. Because players have played for one club in the Champions League can’t play for another that season, you maybe don’t have the big circus with so much money going around.”